(OPINION) An Evangelical pastor in the US has said people can “speed up” the process of Jesus returning to earth by donating more money to congregations.
Speaking during a live TV program Victorython, right-wing evangelical pastor, Jesse Duplantis, said: “I honestly believe this – the reason why Jesus hasn’t come is because people are not giving the way God told them to give.”
“When you understand this, you can speed up the time,” he continued. Pastor Duplantis leads Covenant Church in Louisiana and is the founder of Jesse Duplantis Ministries.
How is this legal?
Saying that viewers can "speed up the return of Christ by donating" should 100% count as false advertising, right? https://t.co/HaDwWrulKE
— Lord Rev. Bryan Young (@BryanIsTheKing) September 24, 2021
He is been known to be part of the prosperity gospel movement, which preaches that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them. “I realized that I will not move people emotionally to give, I’m gonna have people move according to the word of God. What is God saying to you?,”
Pastor Duplantis continued. He then urged people to donate on the number appearing on screen emphasizing that in that way “God the Father would say ‘Jesus, go get ‘em.’” A clip shared by Twitter account Right Wing Watch of the program has gone viral, sparking a big backlash against Pastor Duplantis. MORE